750,000 vote in Qld council elections today despite virus

750,000 vote in Qld council elections today despite virus

Mark Furler is News Regional Media's group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 30 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily. He has also been involved in INMA and News awards wins for excellence in digital coverage.

MORE than a million people have voted early in Queensland's local governement elections which have been overshadowed by the threat of coronavirus.

Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam thanked voters for heeding the health advice of the state's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young and turning out to have their say.

Just over 750,000 are reported to have voted on Saturday.

👩‍💻 Just in: Just over 750, 000 people cast their vote today. Thank-you to all who responsibly cast their votes today - and over the last few weeks - to elect the level of government who will continue to guide #QLD communities through challenging times ahead. #LGE2020

Labor holds a sizeable margin in Bundamba, while the LNP has held Currumbin since 2004.

Mr Hallam said strong community leadership was needed to steer Queensland through the coronavirus crisis.

"There are tough decisions ahead, decisions that need to be made to guide local communities in these challenging times,'' Mr Hallam said.

"Budgets need to be approved, emergency response mechanisms need to be led and local economic response plans activated and implemented to ensure any stimulus and support is targeted where it is most needed.

Today, people in Townsville queued to pre-poll in council elections; 77 such elections across Queensland this weekend. Hospitals across the state have been warned to expect ICUs to be overwhelmed by Easter with #COVID19au cases. We’re at the start of the spike. This is madness. pic.twitter.com/bZQmql1jEl

Fifteen mayors and 31 councillors have already been elected unopposed with the remaining 532 positions to be decided after today's vote including two entirely new councils in Ipswich and Logan.

Other key facts and figures ahead of this election across 77 councils include:

• Ten mayors are stepping down including one who is instead running for a councillor position.

• Of the 367 sitting councillors running again today, 26 are running for mayor.

• Sixteen sitting councillors are challenging incumbent mayors.

• Four former mayors are attempting political comebacks today including former Diamantina Mayor Robbie Dare, who bowed out of the role in 2016, and former Maranoa Mayor Robert Loughnan and former Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent, who were both defeated at the 2016 local government elections. Former Logan mayor John Freeman, who was elected mayor in 2000 and 2004, is in the running to lead the new Logan City Council out of administration.

• The most-contested mayoralty is Brisbane's where nine candidates are vying to become Lord Mayor, followed by Logan, Hope Vale, Gold Coast and Cherbourg, with eight contenders each.

• Logan and Ipswich both has seven mayoral aspirants while five are contesting the Moreton Bay mayoralty.